Leclerc Foods Expanding with a New Facility in Phoenix

SAINT-AUGUSTIN-DE-DESMAURES, QUEBEC, CANADA (February 12, 2014)— Leclerc Foods USA, a North American leader in the cookies, snack bars and crackers industry, is pleased to announce the acquisition of a 166,500-square-foot building in the Freeport Business Center for expansion of its food manufacturing operations in Phoenix, Arizona.

“This acquisition fits our business vision and corporate development strategy. It will allow us to position ourselves near our U.S. clients as well as hone in on food trends in the U.S. West Coast,” asserts Denis Leclerc, President of Leclerc Foods USA.

Among other features, the company’s sixth plant acquired on January 30 will be equipped with a brand new production line for nutritional bars and is designed to offer consumers a full selection of organic and GMO-free products—allowing Leclerc Foods USA to accelerate their development while building on its reputation as an innovator.

This acquisition represents growth potential that will enable Leclerc Foods USA to set up strategic locations in order to more easily serve markets such

as the U.S. West Coast, Mexico and South America. “Not only are we increasing our production capacity, but we will also achieve substantial savings on transportation costs by being closer to key markets,” explains Denis Leclerc.

Resulting from an investment of nearly $50 million over a three to five year period, this latest addition to the U.S. footprint of Leclerc Foods USA will generate up to 100 new jobs.

“We are committed to providing a great environment for business and business expansion in Phoenix,” said Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton. “We are proud to welcome our Canadian friends at Leclerc Foods who have chosen our city to expand their manufacturing operations.”

“An established family-owned business like Leclerc Foods is a great fit for Phoenix,” said Councilman Michael Nowakowski, District 7, in whose district the manufacturing operation will be built. “Leclerc Foods is ready to create jobs and our city staff is ready to assist them in making that process as quick and easy as possible.”

“We are thrilled that Leclerc Foods selected Phoenix for expansion and we thank them for investing in Arizona,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority. “Our strategic Southwest location, proximity to key regional growth markets, and competitive cost of doing business continue to be a magnet for global companies, and we are pleased to welcome Leclerc to Arizona.

“We’re excited to welcome Leclerc Foods to the Greater Phoenix region,” said Barry Broome, President & CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. “More and more Canadian companies are looking to the market to serve as their southwestern location for commerce and trade. Greater Phoenix boasts an attractive business climate, access to vast consumer markets and a depth in the technical labor pool.”

Leclerc Foods USA was founded in 1905 by François Leclerc. The company has grown remarkably over the last 30 years and now boasts more than 700 employees and six ultramodern factories including two in Quebec City, QC (Canada), one in Hawkesbury, ON (Canada), one in Montgomery, PA (USA), one in Kingsport, TN (USA) and now, one in Phoenix, AZ (USA). Leclerc Foods USA is headquartered in the François Leclerc Industrial Park in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Quebec, Canada. The company specializes in cookies and snack bars, and exports to more than 20 countries. Leclerc is known as an innovative company attuned to the tastes and needs of informed customers who care about the food they eat and like to treat themselves to life’s pleasures.

About the City of Phoenix

Phoenix is Arizona’s capital and the sixth largest city in the United States, with more than 1.4 million residents and growing. The city takes up more than 500 square miles. The city’s Community and Economic Development Department works with highly successful businesses of all sizes to locate, expand and become even more successful in Phoenix.

About the Arizona Commerce Authority

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state’s leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create – attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visitazcommerce.comand follow the ACA on Twitter at@azcommerce.

About the Greater Phoenix Economic Council

A true public/private partnership, GPEC is the regional economic development organization for the Greater Phoenix metro area in Arizona. GPEC also was recently ranked one of the top economic development groups in the country. Working with its 23 member communities, Maricopa County and more than 160 private investors, GPEC attracts quality businesses to its dynamic region. By creating a high-performance economy through capital investments and jobs, Greater Phoenix companies enjoy a business climate where they can compete and thrive in today’s global economy. Since 1989, GPEC has worked to achieve an economically sound and sustainable region. For more information, visit www.gpec.org.